Bread slicing machine



Fiied March 28,1959

4 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Mame/s fizz/s rows/144 I J I I INVENTO i 7 W MT/VES SJ Y.

ATTORNEYS April 1942' M. BRUsTowsKY BREAD SLICINCT MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 28, 1939 Maze/.5 flea-5701x5704 INVENT WITNESS.

TTORN'EYS M. BRUSTOWSKY April 21, 1942.

BREAD SLICING MACHINE- I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 28, 1959 Wale/e45- fiez/sran/s/rx V lNVEN I TORNEYS WITNESS Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE in 2,280,059 r BREAD sucme Morris Brustowsky, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana 1 b I 1 Application March 28,1939, Serial No. 264,541

, This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bread slicing machines and. while the improvements herein set forth are applicable to practically all types of bread slicing machines, they particularly lend themselves to that type of machine which employs cutting elements in the form of reciprocating knives. l In the reciprocating knife type of machine, the

actualfcutting elements are in the form of relatively thin, narrow blades with cutting teeth formed upon one edge thereof. These knives are generally disposed in sets or gangs of which there are generally two. In operation, the two sets or gangs of knives are, simultaneously operated in opposite directions and a loafof bread is passed through these knives which sever itinto slices orsections.

The knives are usually mounted in spaced relation under tension in frames and suitable means is employed to reciprocate these frames thereby to impart cutting" motion to theknives. Although, as above statedQthe knives aresecured in their frames under tension, in actual practice, there is a decided tendency to distortion of the knives duringthe cutting operation, especially at the, moment when they are initially engaged'by theloaf. b Distortion of ,theknives of course varies with the character of the bread being cut and while itmay not be present to an appreciable degree in a so-called soft loaf, in the case ofso-called hard loaves, that is loaves having a hard crust, this distortion of the knives is present to a aknife. a H

Breaking of the knife is dangerous since it may result in serious injury to theoperator and further, small portions or fragments of a broken knife may lodge in a slice of the cut loaf and marked degree and often results in breakingof may cause serious injury to anpersonwho would,

eating such a slice of bread, take into his mouth a small portion of a broken blade.

1 Further, distortion of one or more of the blades, even though not sufficient to cause breaking thereof, will almost invariably damage the loaf to such an extent as to renderit unsalable.

I am aware that devices have been employed between the knives in an attempt to prevent dis tortion thereof during the cutting operation and always effective when operating upon loaves of irregular cross-sectional shapes, such for example,

as round loaves, or oval loaves having reduced or pointed ends.

Distortion of the knives generally results at the time of initial engagement of the knives with the knives, rather than independently, the guards do not, particularly in the case of loaves having pointed ends, engage the knives at a point sufficiehtly close to the point of contact of the knife, with the loaf, to prevent distortion of the knives at these points. i l

The present invention contemplates a plurality of independently pivoted guard fingers which are "yieldinglymounted and which are movable to positions between the cutting knives by the loaf of bread being operated upon. By individually mounting the guard fingers and operating themjby theiloaf, the guard fingers are permitted to conform to the contour of irregular loaves andthuseach guard finger engages its respective knives [at a point closely adjacent that point where the cutting action takes place, which has been found in actual practice, to prevent distortion of the knives. e

It is thereforeone object of the present invention toprovide a novel form of guard fingers for "the, knives, of bread slicing machines as well, as a novel method of, operation thereof.

Another obj ct of the invention is to provide novel means for feeding a loaf of bread to be out,

i to the cutting mechanism or knives.

Still afurtherobject of the invention is to provide a novel means for holding a loaf relative? ly to thecutting mechanism during the cutting operation. y a

Still a further object of the invention resides in a novel arrangement of parts whereby when, the loaf" feeding means is returned to its initial "position, the loaf holdingmeans will be auto matically'moved out of position Where it interferes with the placement of aloaf to be cut.

i A still further object of the invention resides in a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby, the machine may be employed either to cut a' single loaf at each operation, or it may be employed to operate continuously upon a plurality of loaves of bread as they are fed successively to the machine.

A, still further object of the invention is to provide for, the automatic starting and. stopping bf 1the machinewhen operating; upon a single oa r l i l Other objects of theinvention reside in certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a 1 in accordance with the machine constructed present invention, illustrating the arrangement of parts to adapt the machinefor successive operation upon a plurality of loaves ,of bread, Figure 2| is a View in front elevation thereof, the figure being partly broken away, Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation-0111a fr e= duced scale illustrating the arrangement of arts to adapt the machine to the cutting of a single loaf at each operation thereof,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken sub,- stantially on the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line B'6 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, the view being taken substantially on the line of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on'an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure '7 Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken sub-' stantially on the line 99 of Figure 8, and;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional viewtaken substantially on the line |,|||0 of Figure 8.

As best illustrated in Figure 6, a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a housing whi'ch'comprises a bottom wall I5, a front wall IE5, side walls IT, a top wall I8 and a relatively low rear wall I9, this latter wall being preferably slightly inclined as shown in said figure. Extending downwardly from the rear edge of the top wall 18, there is a plate or the like I'll. This plate I9 is rigidly held in position by securing its upper end as at to the top wall I8, the plate being supportednear its lower end by a suitable suDDOrtZl herein illustrated as an angle-iron extending transversely of the machine. The lower edge of this plate I9 is provided with a series of notches or the like 22, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more specifically described.

Extending rearwardly of the machine at each side thereof and suitably secured to the "side walls there is a channel member 23 and in each of the channel members 23, there are two sets of guideways 24. The channel members 23 are, disposed at substantially a forty-five degree (45) angle to the bottom wall'and the guideways carried thereby form tracks upon which the knife frames 25 are reciprocatinglymounted.. There are two knife frames 25 and the knives 26 which are carried thereby extend acrosstheir respective frames from one side to the other thereof.

The foregoing construction provides two groups of knives which groups are, during oper: ation of the machine, moved simultaneously in opposite directions by a suitable driving mechanism' which operates to reciprocate the frames in opposite directions and it is to beunderstood that the parts thus far describedare so proportioned and arranged that the several knives 25' will occupy positions in their respective notches 22 in the plate l9.

By reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that each knife frame 25 has pivotally connected thereto, as at 21, a driving rod or link 28. These driving rods or links 28 are pivotally connected to cranks 29 arranged or disposed one hundred eighty degrees (180) apart upon a shaft 30, r0- tatably mounted in bearings carried by suitable arms 3! which project rearwardly from the g front wall it of the housing. By these means, the driving rods or links 28 are operated to reciprocate their respective knife frames when the shaft 3-9 is rotated. Operatively connected to I the shaft til, there is a sprocket 32 around which passes; a driving chain 33 which also passes aroundthe driving pulley 34 of an electric motor 35 mounted upon the front wall of the housing.

. When the motor 35 is set in operation, the shaft 30 will be driven through the medium of the sprocket 32 and the chain 33.

In so far as the present machine has been described, it is more or less conventional type and construction and its specific details form no part of the present invention.

Bread slicing machines of the general type herein illustrated have certain undesirable features and defects in their operation and as above stated, it is an object of this invention to overcome such objectionable features and I will now describe the improved constructions and mecha nisms by which the afore-mentioned difficulties are overcome.

The plate it provides supporting means for the loaf during the cutting operation and as illustrated, this plate I9 is inclined in order that a loaf may move therealong into operative engagement with the knives 26.

Extending transversely of the machine, there is a rod 46 and this rod 4-2] provides means by which a plurality of knife guards or fingers 4| may be pivotally mounted for movement to and from position between the knives 26. Each of the guards or fingers 4| has a main body portion and these guards or fingers are so mounted as to extend downwardly from the rod to such an extent that their curved free ends 43 will be in the path of travel of a loaf of bread. as it passes through the knives to be cut into slices or sections. The guards or fingers 4| are of such shape and size as to pass freely between the knives and yet when they are in position between the knives, they will practically fill said space, although it is preferred that they be not of sufii-' c ient size to engage the knives when the same are in proper cutting position.

The guards or fingers 4| are each independent of the others in their pivotal movement relative to the knives and in their normal position, that is when there is no loaf of bread in the machine, they occupy positions in alinement with each other in the plane indicated by dash lines in Figure 6; By'reference tosaid Figure 6, it will be noted, therefore, that the normal inoperative position of the several guards or fingers 4| is a position in which their curved free ends project between the knives but not to a point beyond the rear edges thereof. To return the several guards 4 endbeing attached to the guards or fingers as bread progresses.

I springs 44.

The housing is extended as at 41 to a point where it is engaged by the pivoted ends of the guards or fingers 4| to provide a stop for the I pivotal movement thereof under the influence of their respective springs44and these parts are so arranged and proportioned that under the influence of their respective springs 44, each of the guards or fingers 4| will occupy the position in- I dicated by dash lines in Figure 6. a

As heretofore stated, in their normal position the curved free ends of the guards or fingers extend to positions in the path of a loaf of bread as it passes through the cutting knives. As illustrated in Figure 6 in which the loaf of bread is designated B, the loaf in passing between the knives engages the guards or fingers 4|, pushing them singly between the knives as the loaf of It will also be noted from said figurethat the curved free ends of the several guards or fingers engage the loaf at approximately the points at whichthe cutting actually ed upon the loaf by the placing of the springs 44 under tension, these several guards or fingers, in addition to preventing twisting or distortion of the knives, serve to a certain extent, to retainthe invention, I consider highly important since it insures the several guards or fingers passing into proper position relatively to the knives at substantially the points where the cutting blades engage the loaf which points as above stated, are those at which distortion or twisting of th blades results. I I

As the cutting of the loaf continues, the loaf passes beneaththe several guardsor fingers 4| andas itpasses clear of the knives, the several guards or fingers 4| are returned to their normal position under the influence of their respective Means is provided to feed the loaf through the knives without necessitating the pushing of the loaf therethrough by an operator. means consists of a gravity actuated device herein illustrated as a follower which moves along the loaf supporting means I9 under the influence of gravity to force the loaf through theknives 2B inthe manner illustrated in Figure 6; I

This follower extends substantially across the loaf supporting means Ill upon which it is both is mounted for sliding movement relativelyto the loaf Supporting means I9. Since these guides are of substantially identical construction, the

description of one is deemedsufficient.

Each of these guides consists of a U-s haped member having a long leg 52 which underlies the I loaf supportingmeans I9 and a relatively short I leg 53 which ovelies the loaf supporting means I9 as best illustrated in Figure 10. Rollers 54 are carried by the guides and are adapted to engage their respective side edges of the loafsupporting means 19 to facilitate the sliding movement of the guides relative thereto.

Each guide has an upstandingear 55 and the follower has two rigid arms 56, seeFigure 'l, by which the follower is pivotally mounted upon the guides. By this construction, the followenforms the connection between the guides 5| and' the guides 5| provide the means by which the'follower is both slidably and pivotally mounted upon takes place and by reason of the pressure exert- I theloaf supporting means I9; The follower 5|| has a handle 51 by which it may be swung about its pivotal points for a purpose :to be hereinafter described. I I I Each of the rigid arms 56 is cut-out asat-58 and mounted in each cutout portion, there is a roller 59. These rollers 59 support the follower 5|1s1ightly above the loaf supporting means I9as best illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

Means is provided to retain .the follower against pivotal movement and this means is herein illustrated as a bolt 60 carried .by the short leg 53 of each of the guides 5|. Each bolt 60 extends through an elongated slot in its respective arm 55 and has its upper end threaded to receive a nut 6|. When the nuts aretighte ened, upon their respective. bolts, the. arms are clamped against their respective short legs 53 ofthe guides and pivotal movement of the follower is thus prevented. I I

While the follower 5|] may be moved by. the handle 51, means is also provided for moving said follower from a point removed with respect toithe knives 26 and without danger of injury to the hands of the operator. I

Extending across the machine, beneath the loaf supporting means I9, there is a shaft whichis mounted in two brackets 66 which dee. pend from the under side of the loaf supporting means .I 9. The shaft 65 terminates short of the side walls I! of the housing and its.ends are supported by removable end bearings 61 which extend through suitable openings in. the. side walls I1 and are secured to the shaft 65 by bolts or the like 68. Each end bearing 61 has a re-. cessor socket 69 for the reception of a handle 10, which may be placed at. either end of the shaft to operate the same from either side of the machine. .7

The handle provides means for rocking the shaft 55 and I will now describe the mechanism by which the follower will be moved along the loaf supporting means I9 when the shaft .65 .is

rocked by the handle I0. 1

I to the loaf supporting means I9 as at I8 and rotatably mounted upon the inner end of each of these levers, there is a gear 19. The pivotal connection between the links I6 and the levers H is designated and it will be noted by reference to Figure '7 that the gears I9 have-intermeshing engagement with each other. The outer end of each lever TI is provided with an elongated slot 83219651; illustrated in Figure .9, and this slotembraces a roller 89 mounted'upon the under face of the long leg 52 of its respective guide 5|. This construction is best illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

It will be apparent that as the shaft 65 is rocked by means of the handle 10, the levers" W111, through the medium of the links 16, be rocked about their pivotal points 18. This rocking; of the levers causes the outer ends thereof to move their respective guides 5| along their respective edges of the loaf supporting means I19. Since, as above stated, the follower is mounted upon the guides 5| the follower will move with the guides. For example, with the parts disposed as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, if the handle 10 be moved to rock the shaft 65 in a. clockwise direction, the outer ends of the levers 11 will be moved upwardly in Figure '7 and will carry the guides of the follower upwardly of the loaf supporting means l9. This action takes place each time a loaf is placed in themachine for operation.

Means is provided to exert sufficient pressure upon the loaf to prevent its rocking under the influence of the knives during a cutting operation and this means will now be described.

The reference numeral 99 designates a baillike member which is pivotally mounted in bear- :ings 9| upon the upper wall N3 of the housing. Each leg of this bail-like member 90. has an offset portion 92 and the base 93 of the bail-like member is adapted to rest upon the loaf during the cutting operation as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. Provision of the off-set portion 92 provides a cam portion 94 in each leg of the bail-like member and the purpose of this, cam portion will now be described. When the loaf has been completely out and passes from beneath the bail-like member 99, the bail-like member will settle to position at rest upon the top edge of the follower 59 as illustrated in dash lines in Figure 6. By this construction, it will be apparent that as the follower 5%] is moved upwardly of the loaf supporting means I9 in the manner heretofore described, the top edge of the follower will act upon the cam portions 94 of the bail-like member 90 to elevate the same and hold it in such position that a loaf of bread to be cut may be placed upon the loaf supporting means [9 in position between the follower 50 and the knives 26. If now the handle It! be released, the follower will, under the influence of gravity, move downwardly of the loaf supporting means l9 and force the loaf of bread being operated upon through the cutting knives 26 to perform the cutting operation.

The machine is preferably operated by an electric motor 35 and when operating upon single loaves at intermittent intervals, it is desirable to cut off the power to said motor 35. This is accomplished automatically by means of two arms 91 and 98 which are carried by the shaft 65 as illustrated in Figure 4. These arms are so arranged as to operate a snap switch 99 in the circuit of the motor 35. By reference to Figure 4, it will be apparent that'as the handle T0 is rocked. in a clockwise direction in said figure to move the follower 59 upwardly of the loaf supporting means 19, the arm 91 will engage the snap switch 99 to close the circuit to the motor to set it in operation. As the loaf is fed through the knives the shaft 65 will be rotated by the follower in a counter-clockwise direction and as the cutting operation is completed, the arm 98 will engage the snap switch 99 to open the circuit to the motor 35. Thus, it will be apparent that the operation of the switch is automatic and the motor is automatically stopped upon the completion of the slicing of a leaf and is automatically started when the follower is moved to permit of the insertion'of a loaf in advance thereof.

The machine may be arranged to operate successively upon a plurality of loaves in which case, the follower is not employed to feed the loaves to the knives since the weight of the loaves themselves is sufiicieut to effect a feeding of the loaf being operated upon, through the cutting knives.

In Figures 1, 2 and the machine is shown as operating successively upon a plurality of loaves B.

In this form of the machine a loaf feeding chute is provided through which the loaves are successively fed to the machine. This loaf feeding chute comprises a plate-like member IUD upon which are mounted by means of pivotal links IBI, two walls 32. The walls I02 are parallel with each other and may be adjusted towards and away from each other by loosening a suitable fastening means 33 by which the links ID! are attached to the plate I09. This construction permits of adjustment of the walls I92 relatively to each other to adapt the loaf feeding chute to loaves of various lengths. Carried by the loaf feeding chute, there are two rigid arms I84 and these arms are received in strap-like brackets I05 carried by the side walls of the machine, the arms I84 being secured in the brackets by set screws or the like I06. This construction provides means for attachment of the loaf feeding chute to the machine and to aid in supporting the same, there may be a prop I01 which is preferably hinged as at I83 to the underside of the loaf feeding chute. The lower end of the prop may rest upon a suitable support 39 carried by the rear wall of the housing,

In attaching the loaf feeding chute to the machine, the operating lever 70 is rocked in a clockwise direction to move the follower to the extreme upper portion of the loaf supporting means l9. After the follower has been moved to the upper portion of the loaf supporting means, the nuts 6| are removed from the bolts 60 which will permit swinging of the follower about its pivotal points to a position where the handle 56 thereof engages the outer surface of the rear wall of the housing as illustrated in Figure 1. In this position the follower is not in the path of travel of the loaf to the machine and the follower is maintained in this position by engagement of the handle 50 with the rear wall of the machine as above described.

When the machine is operating successively upon a plurality of loaves, the motor is maintained in constant operation by reason of the fact that the arm 91 will engage the snap switch 99 as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a machine in which by reason of the fact that each of the knives is engaged by a guard or finger closely adjacent the point where the knife engages the loaf, should distortion of a knife occur during the cutting operation, damage to or breakage of the knives is thereby eliminated.

Furthermore, the guards or fingers being independently operated, insure their engagement with the loaf throughout the length thereof during the cutting operation.

It also becomes apparent that the present machine provides for feeding the loaf through the cutting knives mechanically, thus rendering it unnecessary for an operator to handle or manipulate the loaf during the cutting operation.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a machine which may be adapted at will to the cutting of single loaves at intermittent intervals or continuous operation successively upon a plurality of loaves.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

l. A slicing machine comprising an inclined loaf supporting surface for supporting a loaf of bread to be sliced, slicing knives for severing theloaf into slices, a gravitationally movable element onthe said loaf supporting surface for forcing the loaf through the slicing knives, a pivotally mounted member engageable with the loaf to support the loaf, a plurality of fingers arranged between the knives and engageable with l the loaf during cuttingv operation, and means for returning the gravitationally movable member away from the knives.

2. In a bread slicing machine, a loaf supporting means, a plurality of spaced knives for cutting a loaf of bread into slices or sections, means movable to loaf engaging position between said knives for preventing distortion of the knives during a cutting operation, pusher means for normally moving said loaf past said knives, and additional means mounted for movement towards and away from the loaf supporting means and movable into pressing engagement with an upper portion of said loaf rearwardly of said first loaf engaging means and ahead of said pusher means to hold the loaf in position during at least a portion of the cutting operation.

3. In a bread slicing machine, an inclined loaf supporting means, a plurality of cutting elements, gravity actuated means mounted on said inclined loaf supporting means and normally movable thereon for feeding a loaf of bread into cutting relation with said cutting elements, and manually operable means independently mounted beneath said loaf supporting means for returning said gravitational feed means along said supporting means to an upper position on the supporting means after a cutting operation.

4. In a bread slicing machine, an inclined loaf supporting means, a plurality of cutting elements, gravity actuated means mounted on said inclined loaf supporting means and normally movable thereonfor feeding a loaf of bread into cutting relation with said cutting elements,

manually rotatable means independently mounted on the slicing machine, and means normally connecting said rotatable means to said gravity actuated feed means to effect return of said gravity actuated feed means along said supporting means to an upper position on the supporting means after a cutting operation and upon operation of said rotatable means.

5. In a bread slicing machine, an inclined loaf supporting means, a plurality of cutting elements, gravity actuated means mounted on said inclined loaf supporting means and normally movable thereon for feeding a loaf of bread into cutting relation with said cutting elements, manually rotatable means independently mounted on the slicing machine, means normally connecting said rotatable means to said gravity actuated feed means to effect return of said gravity actuated feed means along saidsupporting means to an upper position on the supporting means after a cutting operation and upon operation of said rotatable means, and means providing for detaching said feed means from said connecting means and moving the feed means to an inoperative position.

6. In a bread slicing machine, an inclined loaf supporting means, a plurality of cutting elements, pivoted means connected to a part of the machine and arranged adjacent the supporting means for engagement with the loaf to retain the same in position upon the inclined loaf supportwith means on said loaf holding means for elea loaf to be out along the inclined loaf supporting means into cutting relation with said cutting elements, manually operated mechanical means for returning the loaf feeding means to the upper portion of the inclined loaf supporting means after a cutting operation has been completed, a pivotally mounted means arranged above the supporting means and adapted to rest upon a loaf to retain the same upon the loaf supporting means, said pivoted loaf holding means overlying the loaf feeding means, and means on said feeding means cooperating with means on said overlying loaf holding means for elevating the holding means in response to return movement of the feeding means to the upper portion of the loaf support to raise the holding means to an elevated position providing for placeloaf engaging means movable into engagement with upper portions of said loaf between said knives to hold the loaf on said surface during slicing thereof, a second loaf engaging means mounted for movement towards and away from the loaf supporting means and movable into engagement with an upper portion of said loaf rearwardly of said first means to press a rear portion of the loaf downwardly against said supporting surface and to maintain the loaf against rockingduring at least a portion of a slicing operation, and means including a pusher member movable beneath said second loaf engaging means for moving a loaf past said knives.

MORRIS BRUSTOWSKY. 

